Empresas y finanzas

GE Money Reaches Agreement with UniCredit on Acquisition of New BPH



    GE Money, the global consumer lending unit of General Electric
    (NYSE: GE) announces that it has today signed an agreement with
    UniCredit regarding the acquisition, by GE Money, of Bank BPH, which
    will be completed following the completion of the spin-off of a
    portion of Bank BPH's business to Bank Pekao (referred to hereafter as
    "New BPH").

    The spin-off of a portion of the business of Bank BPH into Bank
    Pekao has already been approved by the shareholders' meetings of both
    banks and is subject to the consent of the Polish Banking Supervision
    Commission.

    Under the terms of the agreement, GE Money will acquire close to
    66% of the shares of New BPH from UniCredit. The transaction envisages
    also the future acquisition by GE Money of 49.9% of BPH TFI (BPH's
    asset management unit) that Bank BPH does not already own from CABET
    Holding, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank Austria Creditanstalt (part
    of the UniCredit Group).

    The total consideration for these transactions is $854.9 million
    (EUR 625.5 million). As of 31 December 2006, New BPH had pro forma
    total assets of $2.9 billion (EUR 2.2 billion), net loans of $1.8
    billion (EUR 1.4 billion), deposits of $1.6 billion (EUR 1.2 billion)
    and shareholders equity of $0.5 billion (EUR 0.4 billion). BPH TFI had
    assets under management of $2.4 billion (EUR 1.8 billion) for the same
    period.

    The transaction is subject to a number of conditions precedent,
    including regulatory and competition approvals, and is expected to
    close by the end of 2007.

    As a result of this transaction, GE Money will have access to New
    BPH's universal banking infrastructure and network of around 200
    branches. New BPH and GE Money's existing business in Poland will have
    a complementary and well-diversified network (together, around 330
    outlets by the end of 2007), positioning GE Money as a top five bank
    in the market by assets. Jointly, the businesses will have staff of
    approximately 6,900 offering a broad range of products. Total assets
    will be approximately $7.3 billion (EUR 5.5 billion). New BPH will
    continue to be led by Joseph Wancer, its Chairman and CEO.

    The transaction executes GE Money's core strategy in Central &
    Eastern Europe of investing and building scale in key strategic,
    developing and high growth markets such as Poland. It will accelerate
    the transformation of GE Money into a universal bank in this market.
    GE Money already operates universal banks in the EMEA region in the
    Czech Republic and Hungary and with its partner the Dogus Group in
    Turkey has a majority shareholding in Garanti Bank, Turkey's third
    largest private bank.

    Commenting William H. Cary, President and CEO of GE Money EMEA
    said; "We are delighted that we have successfully reached an agreement
    on the acquisition of New BPH.

    This investment presents an excellent opportunity for us to expand
    our presence in the Polish market, gain significant scale and
    accelerate our transformation into a universal bank. GE Money Bank has
    a great track record of growth in Poland.

    This investment is an indication of our long-term commitment to
    the market and a vote of confidence in the future prospects for the
    Polish economy. New BPH is a great business with a great team of
    people; together we look forward to building a great business."

    GE Money has grown strongly in Europe over the past decade since
    it first established a presence in 1992 with the acquisition of its UK
    business. It currently operates across 25 markets in the EMEA region
    employing over 24,000 people. In Central & Eastern Europe, GE Money
    has been present since the acquisition of Solidarnosc Chase DT Bank in
    1995, and currently has existing banking and consumer finance
    operations in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia,
    Slokavia and Turkey. GE first established a presence in Poland in 1992
    and today employs 6,000 people in the market operating across a range
    of sectors including consumer finance, media and technology.

    About GE Money

    GE Money, a unit of General Electric Company, with $190 billion in
    assets, is a leading provider of credit services to consumers,
    retailers and auto dealers in 55 countries around the world. GE Money,
    based in Stamford, Conn., offers a range of financial products
    globally, including private label credit cards, personal loans, bank
    cards, auto loans and leases, mortgages, corporate travel and
    purchasing cards, debt consolidation and home equity loans and credit
    insurance. More information can be found online at www.gemoney.com

    GE Money EMEA

    GE Money first established a presence in EMEA in 1992. Today GE
    Money operates in 25 countries in the region and employs over 24,000
    employees. GE Money EMEA has assets of $88.7 billion (2006) and net
    income of $1.6 billion. The region accounts for approximately 45% of
    the total global assets of GE Money.

    GE Money Bank, Poland

    GE Money Bank, Poland was established in January 2005 as a result
    of the merger of GE Capital Bank and GE Bank Mieszkaniowy (Housing
    Bank). GE Money Bank offers personal loans, auto loans, used cars
    financing program (GEpard), mortgages, credit cards, sales finance
    products, commercial loans and investment fund units. Headquartered in
    Gdansk, GE Money Bank offers its products and services throughout a
    network of branches, agents, brokers, dealers and developers
    co-operating with GE Money Bank, as well as in retail networks. GE
    Money Bank employs almost 4,000 people in Poland. More information is
    available at www.gemoneybank.pl